Anxiety is now being felt by people from across all walks of life in Malaysia over the pertinent question as to who will be the 10th Prime Minister and which coalition is to form government days after the 15th General Election (GE15) on Nov 19.
A total turnout rate of about 73% of voters in Malaysia went out to cast their ballots in hopes of a brighter future for the country.
The GE15 this year is historic because it is the first time all voters, including those aged 18 and above, were automatically registered. It was also the first time in democratic history that Malaysia experienced a hung Parliament.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirms that he is the sole candidate for Prime Minister in joint negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN) earlier today. PH won 82 seats at GE15, placing them as the largest bloc to form a government.
“Well yes, I am the prime minister candidate, said Anwar, adding, Pakatan Harapan has exceeded the required 112-seat simple majority required to form the next government.
“We have exceeded, it’s comfortable,” said Anwar when met by reporters as left the hall after holding a press conference at the Seri Pacific Hotel here on Monday (Nov 21), when asked to comment on the majority that PH has secured.
On the other side of the divide, Perikatan Nasional (PN) stated the coalition has submitted statutory declarations (SD) from MPs to show that the coalition has achieved the majority needed to back its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the next prime minister.
“The number of SDs submitted is more than 112, which is the majority vote needed from MPs for the appointment of the prime minister under Article 43 of the Federal Constitution,” said PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.
PH won 82 seats, PN (73), Barisan Nasional (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (22), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (6), Warisan (3), Independents (2) and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (1) in the 15th General Election.
Out of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat a simple majority to form government of 112 seats is needed. So, both parties claiming they have 112 or more seats does not compute.
Who is telling the truth, or is it merely perceived? Malaysia should know on Tuesday.
